World Cup 2026 DR Congo Chase Last 32 Against Uzbekistan

DR CONGO · WORLD CUP

Sebastien Desabre’s Leopards must beat World Cup debutants Uzbekistan in Atlanta and then hope elsewhere to keep alive a faint place in the last thirty-two.

World Cup 2026 DR Congo chase the last 32

DR Congo face Uzbekistan at Atlanta Stadium on Saturday night. The two Group K games kick off at the same time.

According to FIFA’s official match centre, this is Match seventy-two of the tournament. Both sides come in chasing very different goals.

DR Congo still cling to a slim hope of reaching the knockouts. Uzbekistan, already out, are playing for pride at their first World Cup.

How Group K stands

Colombia lead Group K on six points, with Portugal second on four. Both have already reached the round of thirty-two.

DR Congo sit third on a single point, earned in a one-one draw with Portugal. They then lost one-nil to Colombia.

Uzbekistan are bottom and eliminated, beaten three-one by Colombia and five-nil by Portugal. Their margin for error has vanished.

The maths: a win and then a wait

By The Rio Times’ reading of the table, DR Congo must win to have any chance. Victory would lift them to four points and into third place.

Even then, their fate would rest on the best-third ranking. The eight best third-placed teams across all twelve groups advance to the last thirty-two.

With several groups producing four-point third-placed sides, even a win may not be enough. DR Congo would have to win well and watch other results.

A fifty-two-year wait ends

The bigger story is simply that DR Congo are here at all. Per FIFA’s team profile, this is their first World Cup since 1974, when they competed as Zaire.

The Rio Times notes that is a gap of fifty-two years between finals. The Leopards sealed their return by beating Jamaica in March’s intercontinental play-off.

In 1974 they became the first sub-Saharan African nation to reach a World Cup. That side lost all three games, including a nine-nil defeat to Yugoslavia.

Uzbekistan’s debut ends here

Uzbekistan reached the finals for the first time after years of near misses. Their tournament, though, has been a steep lesson.

The Rio Times notes they have conceded eight goals in two games while scoring once. A draw on Saturday would still be their first ever point at a World Cup.

They are coached by Fabio Cannavaro, who captained Italy to the 2006 title. Leading a debutant nation is a very different challenge for the Italian.

The Leopards’ golden generation

Desabre has built around an experienced core. Captain Chancel Mbemba anchors the defence, with Arthur Masuaku and Cedric Bakambu adding quality further forward.

The Frenchman took charge in 2022 and guided DR Congo to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in early 2024. That run built the belief now on show.

A win here would not erase the disappointment of an early exit. It would, though, give a proud footballing nation a first World Cup victory in over half a century.

Why it matters

For DR Congo, the match is about pride and a slim mathematical lifeline. A statement performance would still send a message about the team’s progress.

For Uzbekistan, it is a chance to leave the tournament with something tangible. A first World Cup point would be a fitting reward for a historic debut.

What comes next

If DR Congo win and results elsewhere fall kindly, they could yet sneak into the round of thirty-two. They would then enter the knockout bracket next week.

If not, their campaign ends with valuable experience banked. The squad is young enough for many to target the next cycle.

Uzbekistan, meanwhile, head home after the group stage. Their first finals will be remembered as a milestone rather than a run.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is DR Congo vs Uzbekistan at World Cup 2026?

The match kicks off on Saturday night, local time, at Atlanta Stadium. It is the final round of Group K fixtures.

Can DR Congo still reach the last 32?

Only with a win, and even then they would depend on the best-third ranking. Three points may not be enough on their own.

When did DR Congo last play at a World Cup?

In 1974, when they competed as Zaire. This is their first appearance at the finals in fifty-two years.

Is Uzbekistan out of the World Cup 2026?

Yes, the debutants are eliminated after losing both opening games. They play only for a first World Cup point.

Who coaches Uzbekistan at World Cup 2026?

Fabio Cannavaro, the former Italy captain who won the 2006 World Cup. He is leading Uzbekistan at their first finals.